UNC-Wilmington athletic director Kelly Mehrtens said only 12 Division I athletic programs in the country turn a profit every year. Wilmington Sea Dawgs owner Pete Gratale said in order to get fans in a franchise’s infancy, owners must be willing to give away a lot of free tickets and get “in the concession business.”

“It’s a non-profit business,” Rudisill kidded. “It’s not supposed to be, but it is.”

However, those red figures never deterred him during his run as an owner of the minor-league soccer franchise, which ended after the 2007 season. However, following the 2009 season, the franchise was terminated by the United Soccer Leagues for issues with owner Chuck Sullivan. Attempts to find owners for the 2010 season disintegrated, and the team did not take the field for the first time since its birth in 1996.

A prospective owner from Chicago seemed set but he, “couldn’t get comfortable with the league” structure and disarray before the 2010 season. Another potential group of investors from Great Britain hedged its interest after learning that Legion Stadium could be converted to an artificial surface from its current grass field.

None of that has slowed Rudisill’s desire to bring a team back to Wilmington for 2011. He even admitted afterward that he’d likely be a minority owner of a revived franchise.

“I was always worried about them closing the team down,” Rudisill said, later adding that the USL has “promised” that it could assist in management of the team.

“If the team comes back, it will be the Wilmington Hammerheads,” Rudisill said. “And that is important for us.”

I can’t believe that we sat through the same meeting and this is story that came out of it. What about the Durham Bulls owner saying time and again that he would like to see a Ballpark on the Riverfront and the associated economic development?

I agree with Adam. Were you really at the same meeting as everyone else? The main topic of the whole meeting focused more on the idea of getting a minor league baseball team in Wilmington, and not on the Wilmington Hammerheads. Although the Hammerheads coming back would be good for the community, it is not going to help stimulate economic growth in our area. A minor league baseball team would.

only 9 division 1 schools turn a profit because of title IX. lets be honest, womens basketball, volleyball, tennis, mens baseball, mens basketball at small schools, track, lacrosse, soccer etc, the list is too large to compile…. people pay to watch big name football and basketball…i played division 1 baseball at 2 schools, and I’m sure we were never remotely close to turning a profit…i like going to hammerhead games, but just like baseball, there’s not enough people into soccer to turn a profit at the gate… little kids like soccer, but they can’t drink beer, which is where the money is made

Rick & Adam … We were at the same meeting, but Rudisill’s comments were far more concrete. Goodmon discussed what he would “like to see”, yet something he didn’t know anything about. He didn’t know our tax structure. He didn’t know our government structure. He didn’t know who the mayor was. He didn’t even know who to talk to. With a little bit of homework, he’d have known that mayor Saffo has already said the city has zero interest in funding a downtown stadium because of other financial obligations, that the logistics of putting in a waterfront ballpark are tough because of space and directionality (a baseball field can’t face west) and that the city can’t even find a hotel for its new convention center, much less a baseball stadium. In order to do what Goodmon said is done in Raleigh, the city and county would pay for the stadium, which means you and I and every other county resident will be paying. And while you and I might not mind, a majority of the county has said in the past that they are not interested. Like I said in the UNCW football post later Tuesday … not now, not yet.

Does anyone remember the Port City Roosters?
As a die hard baseball fan and local game attender, I know minor league baseball would never turn a profit.
The UNCW Men’s team consistently turns out winning teams with exciting home games, but with very little attendance. Instead of trying to bring something unnecessary here, lets try to promote what we do have.
Take all of the Minor league energy, and devote it to getting fans into Brooks field this coming season. Let’s pack those stands. You won’t be disappointed.
Even the Myrtle Beach Pelicans with their tourist perfecto location next to Broadway barely has anyone in the stands.

Go to Hoggard, Laney or UNCW games! You will see more future pros there than on a weak Minor league team.

Adam- The Pelicans drew 238,287 in Myrtle Beach in 2009, 3rd in the league. Myrtle Beach has a great stadium, and the Pelicans are a very successful( read-profitable) franchise. They have great management and great promotions- it’s a wonderful experience to see a game there. The 1995-96 Port City Roosters were doomed to failure, as were the Waves. Brooks Field simply won’t work as a venue for professional baseball. The Waves couldn’t even sell beer because they were on campus! The Waves particularly had very poor management on the business side, and that really punched their ticket out of town. It’s very telling that the Waves did even worse in Georgia after they moved. If Wilmington could find an owner who could afford to pay part of the construction costs on a new stadium in a good location, I have no doubt that it would be successful.

About This Blog

Howdy. I’m sports editor Dan Spears, and I keep everything straightened up around here — with thoughts on pretty much anything to do with sports, both locally and nationally. I’ve been with the StarNews since August 2006, and sports editor since September 2008. I’m a big college basketball fan and have been to the first weekend of the NCAAs every year since 1997, either as a fan or a writer. I attempt to play golf, run marathons and play volleyball here in town at Capt’n Bill’s on Market Street. Enjoy reading, and let me know what you’re thinking … Dan